Flat Hunting

sorry for the experience. Hope someone has a nice flat to rent and reads this. Wish you luck! And, by the way, nice apartments are rented following the word of mouth. Nice apartments are not rented out to anonymous individuals coming from weekly adds...you were not given the right advice, am afraid.

I once got an offer for a studio in Brooklyn, 12 hundred dollars per month, "cozy and charming" as they said. In fact: basement studio, actually in the cellar, "not suitable for tall people" the woman said. It was a dump, 1.50m tall, with no light, only small windows overlooking people's feet and puke, and only one of hundred or so that I considered for the price. That was New York, friend.

I believe it is still a bit easier in Belgrade.

my man! i hear you. since 1985 when i arrived in belgrade as a student i've changed 17 flats. one was so deep underground that i had to walk 36 steps to see what's the weather.

Having rented four flats in as many years in Belgrade, I have come to realise that it is always at this time of year that things start to break, crack, stretch, or generally conk out in one's home.

Perhaps it's the change of seasons, or perhaps the fact that everything that was replaced or repaired at this same time last year came with only a one-year guarantee and, as if by magic, promptly broke after that year had elapsed.

Finding a flat at this time of year is not gunna be easy for you Nick. Everyone's battened down their hatches and settled in for the winter.

If you can hold out until March/April, you're bound to find something to suit your needs. You should go with an agent though - just make sure it's one of those you pay upon accepting your new keys and not one of the shysters you have to pay in advance.

Happy hunting!

fix the doors and the sink and buy yourself a used stove and a used washing machine, or negotiate with the landlord to get new appliances? I bet the cost of fixing things would pay off in long term. The likelihood of finding a dream-apartment for the right price in Belgrade is an oxymoron. Same goes for Ottawa and Toronto where I viewed about 50 apartments for the past 6 years.

Buy "Krov Nekretnine"... Maybe you will have more luck. :)

You might find lot of people that want to rent pretty nice appartments, but they are afraid of bad tenants. Just ask around.

Leda

What are a French kitchen and Norwegian heating anyway? Any ideas?

"It is not how things are in the world that is mystical, but that it exists."

And happy ads deciphering. The same rules apply for any holiday brochures if no distance in meters to the beach clearly indicated in the brochure - it usually means a 20 mins walk in the sun.

Renting an apartment in Belgrade is a difficult task. It took me always about a month to find a place that I really liked. Contacting various agencies and reading all the classifieds was not so much helpful. Almost all of the advertised apartments that I saw failed on quality/price ratio test. At the end, I always found a place to live that was recommended by my friends or family members.
Good luck in your search!

oh there are flats like that, but how much are you willing to pay? belgrade is still very cheap, so don't complain. and you don't have to give 3 rents in advance (that is first month rent, last month rent and security deposit) like in usa.

most people live in owned flats (no mortgage or widespread renting in serbia) and people who rent appartments are mostly students, the market is relatively small.

serbian landowners usually have smaller flats (under 50 m^2) for rent, larger flats are not easy to find because there isnt much interest in such places in the first place. if you look for something specific, why dont you put an advertisment in oglasi yourself - i'm sure people who have apartments for rent will notice it.

You seem like a quiet a frustrated lad!
Keep looking, maybe you get lucky one of these days.
Nothing is easy, we have all been there, and worse!

http://www.webnekretnine.com/search.php?iz_drz=1

Got beautiful, spacious, recently fully renovated apartment on lovely location in Belgrade. During the renovation I have followed all the requirements I would set up for myself. The objective was to make the tenants as comfortable as possible.
The problem is that I am having trouble renting it, it has never been rented before, and it is still empty. The reason: I live in Portugal and rarely come to Belgrade, I did not trust the agencies and my helpful relatives from BG never have time to place adds or chase the civilized occupants.
And I would be very glad to make someone happy...

...what serbia means;)

Nicholas im really sorry to hear about your experiences
well i have a flat of 80m2 its in a prime location of belgrade (Hram) i spent loads of money furnishing it you name it its got it , me and my serbian girl friend
where planing to move in there but we broke up few months ago hehe:)
well anyway im back in london now working the property
has just come on the market its all new and wonderfull
well you will need to see it for your self my aunt has the flat keys she lives belgrade she is the landlord while i am not there

if you like you can contact me on my email
i will give you her number or you can email me your number in belgrade and she will contact you :)

Hi i have a flat on resvaska st. It's 115 and its empty but i was wondering how much you can spend? It's completly redone american style, i can send u some pix if u would like. It has marble/wood floors stainless steel kitchen,big stainless steel fridge, island kitchen done in wenge wood. Furnished with flexform couches, platform bed, complete lux apt done in neutrals, brand neww windows, tall ceilings, with flos/artemedie lights. I took a salon apt and conveted to the W hotel, haha, email me back if interested. I know what u mean about hte apts there thats why i completly gutted this one.thanks gordana

Hi Nick,

the experience was so you would not miss London too much. Can't imagine many of the places would be worse than some of the King's College residences, or flats around Holloway Rd, Finsbury Park etc.

Hope to see you next time I am in Belgrade.

Ivan